Buhari, security chiefs in emergency talks over worsening killings, banditry

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja, met with service chiefs and heads of other security agencies in the country.

This is coming after a similar meeting the president held with the security chiefs and heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Those at the meeting on Thursday included the Minister of Defence, retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali; National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i.

Others were the Inspector General of police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar were represented.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, said he and other security chiefs at the meeting briefed the President on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies were doing to curtail the consequences of the development.

According to him, the number of kidnapping across the country has dropped, though the president, he said, directed them to ensure that security agencies “do much more to ensure that Nigerians go to bed and wake up feeling healthy and confident that their security is guaranteed.”

On the increase in kidnappings in the country, the Naval chief recalled that during the last security council meeting, the Inspector-General of Police was directed to ensure that the country was secured, adding that various operations were subsequently set up.

Read also: Naval Chief, Ekwe-Ibas says kidnapping has reduced after meeting with Buhari

He said: “Operation Puff Adder’ was one of the strategies. With the set up of that operation, there has been a remarkable drop in the number of kidnappings. What normally would attract attention is when a key person in government is, perhaps, kidnapped.

“On the whole, the number of kidnappings has dropped and generally I think the security situation is improving.”

On the kidnap of District Head of Daura, the President’s home town, Ekwe-Ibas said key suspects had been arrested. ‘’It is hoped that in a short while, those behind the heinous crime will be brought to book,” he said.

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